Angel City Culture Quest

 "I've always been looking to be able to convey that feeling I had as a kid that there's just more to being a girl than people are saying," -- Peggy Reavey.In September 2025, Peggy participated in AGCC’s Call Freedom: Artists Speak, a group exhibition exploring the theme of freedom at Range Projects Gallery in Los Angeles. Now, Peggy has an upcoming, one woman show titled: “GYRLE: paintings by Peggy Reavey” at solo. Gallery in San Pedro, which will open in late December, 2025. ~ Artwork: "Girl experiment: egg, nest, drawing, power pole" by Peggy Reavey ~

Eric's early years ended up being very influential to his career and we begin there because, not only did he suggest it, but the specific experiences he cited, and which we discuss, map his trajectory toward the language that speaks through his works today. Eric attended LA Valley College in San Fernando Valley, where he met Fidel Danieli, an early writer for Artforum magazine. Danieli became an influential figure to Eric. He knew all of the leading artists of the time, many of whom were in the Light and Space movement like DeWain Valentine, Peter Alexander and Bob Irwin. He also knew Ed Ruche.Meeting Danieli was a significant event in the young artist's life who's advice echoed Eric's father’s belief.“He said son, go find the most important person in the field that you're doing no matter who they are. Find them and work for them for free, befriend them. Do whatever you can to learn what they know. And it was invaluable," said Eric.Eric's work is a remarkable fusion of unconventional elements: automotive tools, techniques, and materials. These form the cornerstone of his unique style as a sculptor. He masterfully blends the structures of wooden architecture with the fluidity of biomorphic forms, resulting in a contrast that captures the essence of life and movement. Beyond this, Eric has mastered the art of incorporating resin, using it to infuse visual depth into his work. The result is a blend of surface and subsurface fluid color, a technique that has earned him respect in the art world.In this episode we discuss Eric's career as well as his process and his motivation for masterfully creating beautiful form. 

 The Cold War Truth Commission was a day of online lectures and discussion in 2021, in essence it was a trial about the origins of the Cold War, and the millions of human lives it took, mainly from US invasions and proxy wars. Sponsoring organizations included Witness for Peace Southwest, School of the Americas Watch, Code Pink, KPFK Radio, Project Censored and others. Compiled from that webinar, Rachel's new book features 54 vital testimonials from respected people including, whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, national director of RootsAction.org Norman Solomon and cofounder of Code Pink Medea Benjamin, as well as everyday people who shared how they were personally affected by the U.S. Cold War.For nearly a decade Rachel has been raising awareness about the US Cold War. In 2017, she started the Cold War Truth Commission, after the presidential election. She noted, the reason she started this work was because, during the aftermath of the 2016 election, Rachel juxtaposed Senator Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump and what she called the two dynamics; the voice and the movement of Sanders, and the idea that it could not be accepted.Rachel asks, how is it possible that something like FDR's economic New Deal could be almost the law of the land,  from a supremely popular four-time elected President, and yet, Bernie Sanders was basically saying the same thing, an economic New Deal, and it wasn't even possible for it to be on the Democratic ticket? What had happened, politically, to cause that sea change in our culture and our politics and what we thought was possible in the very definition of the United States and who we think we are?

Cora is a psychotherapist and an artist.She has been practicing art psychotherapy since graduating from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in 2005. She obtained her California Marriage and Family Therapist license and Art Therapy Registration in 2010. She opened her private practice in 2010, and received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) in 2018.In 2006, she and her husband Ray opened Gallery Azul in San Pedro, named after their child, Harmony AZUL Vasquez. They initially opened to showcase their artwork, but then began to invite other artists. Gallery Azul enjoys holding group art exhibitions that focus on informing and educating the community.Cora was the first in her family — immediate and extended — to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and a Psy. D (Doctoral in Clinical Psychology)."Art is an ever evolving and ongoing part of my life, it is my cathartic expression, and the place in which I sublimate any residual from my clients and the world." -- Cora Ramirez-Vasquezwww.instagram.com/galleryazulWebsite: galleryazul.com and coraramirezvasquez.com 

Peggy’s art is generated out of the site of her home studio at Portuguese Bend in Rancho Palos Verdes, California where she has resided since 1996. Her practice has incorporated sculpture, mixed media, drawing, painting, and assemblage across figuration and abstraction. Peggy’s body of work utilizes equestrian and architectural motifs as embodiments of memory and lived experience. Peggy has had regular exhibits at Art galleries throughout Los Angeles and internationally in South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. She has been founder, curator and director for several nonprofit art galleries in Los Angeles.The artist also addresses the land movement upheaval where she lives. Her home is adjacent to a nature preserve that is part of an ancient landslide. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it is a haven for nature and wildlife and a crisis of broken land. Her work often explores the dichotomy between the broken and the flourishing.The breakdown is where she feels compelled to begin and explore.LINKS to ReviewsIntroducing the artwork of Peggy Sivert, an artist compelled to find meaning of ‘in the broken’, through her workPeggy Nichols, Gallery C, Nov. 10, 2024Tijuana Triennial – Exciting International Art Just Across the Border, DiversionsLA review, Jan. 15, 2025~ ‘The Horses’ poem: ~https://allpoetry.com/poem/8496359-The-Horses-by-Edwin-MuirWebsite:https://peggysivert.com/ 

In 2014, Kristine founded Shoebox Arts, aimed at helping artists gain a presence in the art world. In 2018 she founded the nonprofit January Arts which officially became the publisher of her art magazine Art and Cake in 2024. Kristine runs an alternative art space, Shoebox Projects at the Brewery art colony, and is an Art Activator for the organization Artists Thrive.Her mission is to create community among artists and the art world in order to help each other thrive. Through social practice and engagement, Kristine is interested in using art, community, education and expression to cultivate change.Shoebox Arts, which serves as a support system for artists, celebrates its 11th anniversary this month. For more than a decade, Kristine said, Shoebox has helped artists with the steps they need to take to achieve their goals. It offers resources, education, tools, coaching mentoring, advice and critique.Most importantly, Shoebox offers accountability. Kristine has been helping others her whole life. Listen in to discover more about Kristine's services, and her own project, "Perceive Me." This project, which is the artist's "life's work," has evolved to include a social aspect practice where Kristine brings  artists together to do nude portrait sessions, and the public is invited to sign up to pose for a professional session. Kristine Schomaker Links:https://www.kristineschomaker.nethttps://www.januaryarts.org/https://www.shoeboxarts.com/https://www.artandcakela.com/      

  A Red Cantaloupe Experience will return to Roscoe’s on Sunday, Nov. 24 to present “The Music — The Magic” in celebration of two great musical legends, George Duke and Al Jarreau. The great news is the Knick Smith Quartet is on the bill again for November. The LA based band features Rickey Woodard- sax/flute, Edwin Livingston - acoustic and electric bass, Marvin “Smitty” Smith - drums, Knick Smith - keys, piano and Fender.In addition, Jeff Robinson will be on vocals and, “surprise” guest, Munyungo Jackson on percussion. The live show will also be streamed on View Stub. The event even includes a bonus attraction with magician/illusionist David Golidy Jr. Listen in to this discussion about what holds this great music together in order to bring you the magic.Details:www.pocketjazzpresents.org   Read Melina's article on the first performance here: https://tinyurl.com/Torchbearer-to-Trendsetter   

Join us in discussion with Artist/Photographer Reidar Schopp, about two very special Photography Series, Shibari (Japanese Rope Bondage) his Boxed Series and the LB Shibari Dojo. Reidar takes inspiration from photographer William Mortensen, 1897-1965, who Ansel Adams called the Antichrist.On Mortensen, Reidar wrote; “His imagery was the first to stop me in my tracks. I loved the dark undertones, the stories he was telling ..." Reidar’s current series necessitated his learning of Japanese Rope Bondage including suspensions. These series entitled “Renaissance Shibari” and “Vases” are his latest avenue of exploration into surrealism. Find  below, a listing of Reidar's recent photography series:1. Boxed, The Life We Build for Ourselves - nearly complete with about 350 images2. Life's Entanglements - Shibari series. Includes the subseries of the Renaissance Still Lifes and the Human Vase - created about 25 images so far3. Starting the series of "franz xaver messerschmidt character heads" this will be about 90 images4. Organized Chaos - forming random lights into mandulas and kaleidoscopic images - About 30 images5. Musical Instruments - applying pieces of instruments to a human body to become that instrument and have another play them - Only 2 have been created. I need musical instruments to continue creating this series.6. 180 Degrees of Portraiture - Infrared portraits where a 1st time model is asked to bring an object that is very emotional to them, either good or bad emotions.https://www.instagram.com/rlsfoto/www.lbshibaridojo.com 

Evelyn had been talking about writing this book for some time with her publishers. Trying to write a biography of a person who's still alive is never easy, especially for such a vaulted figure as Joan Didion.  After her death, the book had a context of also trying to explain Didion's legacy in the wake of many articles that came out on Didion. Evelyn wrote this book because there was so much interest in Joan Didion, but also hype around her.Listen in to hear more about Didion's Contrasts and Transformations including significant connections between Evelyn and Joan.

 The son of United Nations diplomats, Artist Javier Proenza grew up in the global foreign service networks of Washington DC, San Jose, Costa Rica and Rome, Italy. While Rome nurtured his interest in art, history and global politics, his high school and college years in Miami are when he reached his final form of Florida Man. His conceptual art practice is centered on the universal absurdities of contemporary experience, and is realized in various traditions including painting, sculpture, video, and installation. In 2018 Javier gave up on grad school, designed a scam to have artists teach him for free, and pretended it was a podcast called What’s my Thesis?https://www.instagram.com/whatismythesis 

This site hosts audio only. To see the video of this special episode, please go to, https://youtu.be/8NdUlrhpjHkMarie is an internationally exhibited painter. Her oil paintings address the tension of urban landscape and the natural world. Inspired by frequent walks through various trails and open spaces in California, her work reveals her observations of the changes and dynamics of nature in the face of the ongoing climate crisis. Engaging notions of abstraction, her work references the surrounding landscape using atmospheric color shifts, fragmented imagery and multiple viewpoints to suggest the ideas of flux, change and instability in the environment. Marie taught painting and color theory at CSULB for 30 years, where she developed an Advanced Studies in Color class.June is a recipient of the COLA Fellowship, the Guggenheim and the California Community Foundation, Fellowship for Visual Artists.  June uses abstract painting to explore how color, repetition, movement, and balance can serve as conduits to spiritual contemplation and interpersonal connection to her African-American roots. Exploring the psychological construct of skin color or tone through pattern and abstract painting has proven to be a revealing gesture and these ideas are explored in her two ongoing series: the Energy Wheel Paintings inspired by her meditation practice and her Flag Paintings, which explore the alignment of multiple identities such as race, nationality, gender, or political leanings.  June’s public art works include a Venetian glass mosaic at the Metro Pacific Station in Long Beach Influences: Marie has two main influences: first, the New York abstract school where her formalist abstract artist teachers were students of the pivotal figure in Abstract Expressionism, Hans Hoffman. That experience that has always remained with her. Second, were her teachers Elmer Bishoff and Joan Brown at Berkeley, members of the "second generation" of the Bay Area Figurative Movement. Marie always loved the California painting of Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud and the landscape expanse.June’s influences include Varnette Honeywood, Romare Beardon, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White, David Hockney and Alma Thomas. Another influence was the 1976 LACMA show ‘Two Centuries of Black American Art.’ These works had a profound, formative impact upon June. Other inspiration/explorations have drawn from cultural and African American historical references, sacred geometry and very recently, the Benin emblem of the river leaf.Find more information at: www.mariethibeault.com  and www.luisdejesus.com/artists/june-edm 

 Breeze Smith plays drums, percussion and creates electronic live-looping. An improvisational drummer, instrument designer/builder, visual artist/designer and sound sculptor, he has completed several commissions for sculptures, paintings, designs and soundtracks. His growing interest in experimental/improvised music and his ever-expanding search for new sounds led him to incorporate his metal sound sculptures into his drum/percussion universe.Breeze says his journey of musical expression has gifted him with opportunities to create with so many  including Dwight Trible, Stan Smith, Scott Heustis, David Ornette Cherry, Justo Almario, Ralph Miles Jones lll, Roberto Miranda, Neneh Cherry, Rod Poole, Hannibal Lakumbe, Dianne McIntyre, Roger Hines, Dwight Trible, Trevor Ware, John Beasley, Billy Childs, Charles Owen, Maggie Brown, Eric Barber, Tony Green, Andre Caporaso, Thomas Hamasu, Eddie Ray & Co, Willie Pooch Blues Band AND duos with his wife, dancer/vocalist Cheryl Banks-Smith.Breeze will perform with his band, Cosmic Vibrations at The World Stage May 31. You can connect with Breeze to inquire about, or to purchase, his music or art at:       www.breezemuse.com/about   www.instagram.com/breezemuse888

 In this episode, Steven noted what Pathos Press can offer LA authors who might think to query them, along with some (not all) indie publishers:"Small publishing houses tend to be much more willing to consider challenging or experimental works, especially by new authors without an established reputation. Some indie publishers assign editors to their authors in order to ensure the quality of the final text of the book. With larger publishing houses, it is sometimes the case that editors serve to recalibrate aspects of the book's plot or characters they consider as being possibly detrimental to future sales. Often, indie publishing editors are concerned only with the ultimate integrity of the manuscript and guaranteeing the legibility and artistic vision of the author."Novels:"Disposable Thought""Grid City Overload"  "Affliction Included""3rd & Orange""The Year I Went Away" ("El Año Que Me Fui")  

In May, 2022, when the SCOTUS leak threatened to overturn Roe v Wade and strip half the country of their reproductive right protections, Pamela quit her corporate sales job and embarked from her California bubble to Red states to capture the harrowing and mundane stories of American women. The resulting documentary, WE’RE NOT GOING BACK! won the Grand Jury award for Emerging Filmmaker when it premiered at The Awareness Film Festival in 2022.  Since then, Pamela continues her pro-choice activism with her feminist blog and podcast, The HisTerical Society. About WE’RE NOT GOING BACK!The film is a Pro-choice documentary film from 2022 before and after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v Wade with its Dobbs decision, taking away the constitutional right to abortion, abandoning almost 50 years of precedent, and paving the way for states to ban abortion. Capturing stories from Red states to educate and promote awareness of what’s at stake now that Roe has fallen and to encourage everyone to vote, in what Pamela dubbed, Roe-vemberYou can find Pamela at; https://torranceproductions.comLink to WE’RE NOT GOING BACK! Pro-choice documentary on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/FF9f4aNgnVU?si=oD1gfhV8MfK9iTwj 

In this episode, hear about why COLLAGE became a nonprofit as opposed to simply a venue and the good work its doing to help students in the Los Angeles region.        "I have a sense that music can give people a reason to live, a reason to stay alive. So, rather than just run shows, I want to do something more than that," — Richard Foss.COLLAGE is a beautiful venue, built in the 1930's, featuring  art deco styling both original and recreated by George Wytovich. It’s intimate and relaxed, seating 49 and the inside is more modern and visually interesting thanks to aged brick walls, a curved wooden ceiling with open beams. COLLAGE is best known for concerts, but also offers art classes, poetry events, storytelling, culinary events and much more. The venue presents both live shows and live streams for many of its events. https://www.collageartculture.org   ~  COLLAGE is located at 731 South Pacific Ave., San Pedro

Jorge posits that publishing houses used to be vanguards. But now, they instead follow the trends that the social landscape we live in wants them to.  Listen in as we discuss this, Jorges new book and his creative process, advice for young writers and the beauty of the small press.Jorge is also co-owner. along with his wife Alejandra Menduina, of Menduina Schneider Gallery in San Pedro, California.Look for Jorge's book "El año que me fui," wherever your favorite place is to buy books. The English version will be published later this year.

Mario Ybarra Jr. is a Mexican-American, a conceptual artist born and raised in Los Angeles. His artwork operates as examinations of excluded social norms, often examining complete environments, histories, and narratives. He received an MFA from the University of California Irvine and a BFA from Otis College of Art and Design. He has been featured in many local, national, and international exhibitions/fairsKarla Diaz is a writer, teacher, and multidisciplinary artist who engages in painting, installation, video, and performance. Using narrative to question identity, institutional power, and explore memory, her socially engaged practice generates exciting collaborations and provokes important dialogue among diverse communities. Critical discourse is central to her practice as she explores social, subcultural, and marginalized stories. In her introspection, splashes of color became figures and objects that transformed into scenes of domesticity and city life drawn from her upbringing in Mexico and Los Angeles. Karla & Mario have been in the forefront of many pilot events, exhibitions and programs in diverse cities, museums, and art galleries all over the world. Diaz's background in youth education, performance, art and writing, influence a multidisciplinary, pedagogical approach to her work, creating dialogue among diverse communities. Mario’s conceptual work and interest in alternative histories and narratives interface with art and cultural contemporary practices.        Karla Diazhttps://www.karladiazart.com https://www.luisdejesus.com/artists/karla-diazhttps://www.instagram.com/karladiaz76/         Mario Ybarrra Jr.www.marioybarrajrartist.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mario_ybarra_jr/         Slanguage Studiohttps://www.instagram.com/slanguagestudio/   

Matthew was born and raised in Los Angeles and has been in the entertainment business for most of his adult life — first in music and then as an award-winning writer/director. During the pandemic, he returned to school to obtain a Master's degree in Public Administration so that he could have more of an impact in helping to create communities that work for everyone. His course of study involved a deep dive into understanding policing, the carceral system, and public safety. Now, his work involves utilizing art to influence positive change.Reimagining SafetySynopsis:Worldwide protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd included calls to defund or abolish the police until a sharp rise in crime gave politicians and police supporters the fuel they needed to suppress the movement. Unfortunately, a detailed conversation about transforming public safety was never had. In Reimagining Safety (shot on iPhone), 10 experts (including LA County District Attorney George Gascón, USC Law professor Dr. Jody Armour and law enforcement expert Alex S Vitale) discuss the false premise that more police and more prisons make us safer. It does this while providing practical and actionable solutions toward achieving systems of safety that work for everyone.The film is already receiving very positive feedback and support from social justice organizations and newly elected progressive leaders. The next screening is at The People's Film Festival June 4, in Harlem, New YorkTrailer: https://vimeo.com/matthewsolomonfilms/rstrailerWebsite: https://www.reimaginingsafetymovie.comhttps://www.matthewsolomonconsulting.com 

Between 1964 and 1966, Stearns served in Vietnam and Japan as a photographer while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Following his time in the service, he was a partner in a ceramics studio, Opus ll, where he taught ceramics as well as drawing and painting.Stearns was a fire captain and paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department from 1967 to 1988 and was a consultant on the television show Emergency!Michael studied at California State University at Los AngelesIn 2002 he opened Gallery 33 in Long Beach, California. It exhibited artists such as Lori LaMont, Todd Brainard, Richard Lopez, Elizabeth Washburn, Adam Normandin and Roderick Briggs. The gallery closed in 2008.In 2012 he moved his studio and gallery to San Pedro, under the name Michael Stearns Studio 347 and later to Michael Stearns Studio at the LOFT.As a sculptor Michael works with cardboard and newspaper as a way to bring nature and urban society together. In Michael’s artist statement, he explains how his work exemplifies his spirit. It reads in part:"In my work I dig deep into the origin of life and explore the universal questions; how did we arrive and what is the force driving this existence?I strive also to invite the observer into this place of examination.As a painter, I work with organic shapes and mostly bold colors to intensify the imagery. In my sculptures I incorporate natural materials along with urban components, creating communication out of discord."https://www.michaelstearnsstudio.com/ 

Lia also known as "Doña Junta" is a former graffiti artist turned street archivist. Doña Junta runs the social media page swapmeet_chronicles which started off as an idea to highlight every day cultural happenings growing up in a Mexican household. The concept developed into a blog in 2007 in which Doña Junta documented the streets of Los Angeles from graffiti, personal stories, events, abandoned places AND MORE. Today, swapmeet_chronicles (with nearly 4,000 followers) evolved into research on the history of our streets, architecture of buildings, and social issues such as mass incarceration and prison advocacy through photos and research driven feature stories. In 2020, Doña Junta with co-host Sabrina Calderon created a podcast called Beyond the Façade to further discuss these places in detail and interview people who also create content in similar realms. Doña Junta has combined her interest in architecture with some of her podcast episodes where she and her co-host discuss the historical issues surrounding these buildings. And this includes state carceral institutions - juvenile and adult - and the issues that have taken place there.Her interest in these institutional buildings was also represented at the Slanguage exhibition: Ghosts of Our Youth: Abandoned Institutions and the Impact on Los Angeles Youth at Angels Gate Cultural Center in 2022. It included images of Juvenile Hall, alongside the video of her podcast discussion on how these institutions affected the youth that were there through the decades but particularly in the 80s and 90s.